Whirlwind TV Guides
Jean-Orphée Reuter, publisher of TV-Star, takes the explosive growth in the number of TV magazines very seriously. However, he does not want to launch yet another «me-too» product.
For many years, the
program guides Tele and TV-Star - at that time still under the name
TR7 - the Swiss market with a few German competitors. In the
The field has grown considerably in recent months. Jean-Orphée Reuter,
publishing director of TV-Star, takes the explosive increase in the number of
television magazines quite seriously. "But there is also a positive
Aspect: "People are talking about the program guides again," brings
Reuter recalls. He compares the current development with
a gale force wind that stirs up the entire landscape of TV magazines. "We
We are in a total displacement battle."
Become a TV star
not commit any short-circuiting acts. A biweekly magazine,
in the style of TV2 or TiptopTV, is not planned: "We don't want a
bring another me-too product onto the market". Two or
four-weekly magazines have always been associated with declining
"The broadcasters change their programs very often, because they have to
it is difficult to stay up to date. There are certainly different
Readers who attach more or less importance to reliable information. For
What counts for most, however, is that the program listings are correct." Nevertheless
There are also "certain plans" for innovations at the TV star's publishing house,
above all, the result should be creative. What exactly he comes up with
Reuter has not yet revealed. The TV star himself will not be
changes: "We only made new changes at the beginning of the year.
launched, so it would be foolish to start talking about fundamental things again.
change."
Digital television poses new challenges for the
makers of program guides. How quickly viewers
is difficult for Reuter to estimate. One
Generational question will arise with the new technologies, predicts
the former Ringier man. "Today's 18 to 20-year-olds and a few
Freaks up to the age of 30 will immediately get to grips with the new possibilities.
many others only get big eyes or a lot of
A shrug of the shoulders." The reader is the focus for Reuter. "You can't
include all digital channels in a program guide - otherwise you keep
a phone book in your fingers." The selection of the relevant digital
channels is a challenge for TV guides. The
The consumer will ultimately decide how quickly the
digital possibilities. "The printed program guide
will always remain, I'm sure of that," emphasizes Reuter.
program guides Tele and TV-Star - at that time still under the name
TR7 - the Swiss market with a few German competitors. In the
The field has grown considerably in recent months. Jean-Orphée Reuter,
publishing director of TV-Star, takes the explosive increase in the number of
television magazines quite seriously. "But there is also a positive
Aspect: "People are talking about the program guides again," brings
Reuter recalls. He compares the current development with
a gale force wind that stirs up the entire landscape of TV magazines. "We
We are in a total displacement battle."
Become a TV star
not commit any short-circuiting acts. A biweekly magazine,
in the style of TV2 or TiptopTV, is not planned: "We don't want a
bring another me-too product onto the market". Two or
four-weekly magazines have always been associated with declining
"The broadcasters change their programs very often, because they have to
it is difficult to stay up to date. There are certainly different
Readers who attach more or less importance to reliable information. For
What counts for most, however, is that the program listings are correct." Nevertheless
There are also "certain plans" for innovations at the TV star's publishing house,
above all, the result should be creative. What exactly he comes up with
Reuter has not yet revealed. The TV star himself will not be
changes: "We only made new changes at the beginning of the year.
launched, so it would be foolish to start talking about fundamental things again.
change."
Digital television poses new challenges for the
makers of program guides. How quickly viewers
is difficult for Reuter to estimate. One
Generational question will arise with the new technologies, predicts
the former Ringier man. "Today's 18 to 20-year-olds and a few
Freaks up to the age of 30 will immediately get to grips with the new possibilities.
many others only get big eyes or a lot of
A shrug of the shoulders." The reader is the focus for Reuter. "You can't
include all digital channels in a program guide - otherwise you keep
a phone book in your fingers." The selection of the relevant digital
channels is a challenge for TV guides. The
The consumer will ultimately decide how quickly the
digital possibilities. "The printed program guide
will always remain, I'm sure of that," emphasizes Reuter.
Carole Scheidegger
